USA > California > Sonoma County > An illustrated history of Sonoma County, California. Containing a history of the county of Sonoma from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time > Part 95
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were born to them- - Ednable, born August 17. 1579. died November 15, 1834, and Edgar. born November 9, 1582. Mr. Martin died Angust 7. 1582. During the campaign which elected her county superintendent, Mrs. Mar- tin made nine public addresses before the people of the county on educational subjects.
LONZO MEACHAM .- Among the pion- eers of California and the early settlers of Santa Rosa Township, is the subject of this sketeli, a brief resume of whose life is as follows: He started on a schooner via the Isthmus of Panama. en route for Califor- nia. Arriving at the mouth of the Chagres River his party proceeded by canoes to the liead waters of that stream, and thence on foot to Panama. There they chartered an English bark and continued their voyage to San Fran- cisco. On account of the long delays suffered in crossing the Isthmus and the transportation of their provisions, supplies. etc., and the slow sailing of their vessel, they did not arrive in San Francisco nntil May 15. 1549. Immedi- ately after his arrival he went to Placer County and engaged in mining. After a few months spent in the mines he returned to San Francisco where he engaged in his old occupation. trading and commission business. This business was successfully conducted until the great fire of May, 1852, which put an end to that undertak- ing. Mr. Meacham, in June of that year, came to Sonoma County and located near what is now the city of Santa Rosa. The only buildings at that time, in the now populous' city, was the adobe house occupied by Mallagh & Mc Donald as a public house. They also had a small stock of goods and groceries. Mr. Meacham bought them out and established a general inerchandise store and trading post. Except for the small venture of Mallagh & McDonald, which they conducted less than a year, Mr. Meacham is justly entitled to the credit of having established the first store in Santa Rosa Township. Shortly
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after opening his store he sent a petition to Washington asking for the establishment of a postoffice at that point. This petition was granted and Mr. Meacham was appointed post- master. lle gave the office the name of Santa Rosa, to which the town of Santa . Rosa suc- ceeded. Mr. Meacham is entitled to the grati- tude of posterity for conferring this beautiful name. In the fall of 1852 Mr. Meacham's old partner, Barney Hoen, came to Santa Rosa, and purchased a half interest in the store. They conducted the business until May, 1853, when Mr. Meacham sold his interest at the old adobe store to F. G. Hahman. In 1852 Mr. Meacham purchased seventy acres of land, where Santa Rosa now stands, from Julio Carrillo, paying twelve dollars per acre for it. The next year he sold the land to Hoen & Co., and in the same year purchased 450 aeres of land on the Mark West Creek. Ile took up his residence upon this land and since that time has devoted him- self to farming and stock-raising, an oeenpation in which he has been successful, proving that the same energetic, industrious habits and sound business principles that had secured him suc- cess in other pursuits, when applied to his present calling would produce like results. Mr. Meacham now (188S) owns 300 acres of his original 480 acre tract. This fine farm is loca- ted on the south bank of Mark West Creek, about two miles west of the town of Fulton, at Meacham Station, on the Guerneville branch of the North Pacific Railroad. The land is rich and very productive, suited for the varied pro- ductions for which Sonoma County is noted. Eighteen aeres are devoted to vineyard, pro- ducing wine grapes of the Zinfandel, Riesling and Chasselas varieties. He also has a fine family orchard, producing a large variety of fruits. The rest of his land is devoted to hay, grain and stoek. Among the latter are 400 sheep, mostly Southdown. He also raises some fine specimens of horses and cattle, but generally only such as are required for farm purposes. With the exception of two years-1866 to 1868 -during which time he resided in San Fran-
cisco, in order to give his children better schooling facilities, Mr. Meacham has lived in the county since 1852. ITis straightforward business habits and consistent course of life have gained him a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Ile has always taken a deep interest in the county and done much in aiding enterprises which he believed tended to advance the interests and welfare of the seetion in which he resides. Politically he is a Republican, and though not aspiring to office he takes an intelligent interest in all political matters affecting county, State and nation. A strong supporter of public schools, he served for years as school trustee of his distriet. In 1850, while residing in San Francisco, Mr. Meacham was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Tate, a native of Canada. From this marriage there are five children living, viz .: William, Charles, David, George and Elvira,
OLONEL R. H. WARFIELD, of Healds- burg, is a native of New York, born at Rushville, Yates County, June 15, 1843. His father, Richard Nelson Warfield, was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, nineteen miles from Baltimore, on a tract of land 1,900 acres in extent, which was entered in 1635 by the founder of the family in this country, and which is still held intact in the family name, an uncle of the subject of this sketch making his home there. Richard Nelson Warfield removed from Maryland to New York State, and was for many years a wholesale merchant of Rochester. He was born March 10, 1817, and his mother, Elizabeth Lamoreaux, of Maryland, who was born in 1796, is yet living. She was nineteen years old when the battle of Waterloo was fought. The mother of Colonel R. II. Warfield, whose maiden name was Rachel Elona Hill, was born in Ver- mont, January 19, 1822, but was reared in Massachusetts at a place sixty miles from Boston. When the family removed to Rochester, New York, R. H. Warfield was eleven years of
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age, and he was placed by his father in the publie schools of that eity. He graduated from the high school, winning the first of the three prize scholarships of his class, and delivering 1
the valedietory in Latin. Ile at onee entered the University of Rochester, from which he graduated with honor, taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts. ITis first military experience was with the Rochester Battery, known as " the Grays " (which was attached to the Twenty-fifth Brigade, N. G. S. N. Y.), during the draft riots in Albany, Troy and New York City, in July, 1863. Returning home with the battery after its duties had been faithfully performed, he began, with others, the formation of Company E, to be attached to the Fifty-fourth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y. At the organization of the company, he was elected Second Lieutenant, and commeneed at once the study of the drill and discipline, soon becoming familiar with the de- tails. The National Guard, however, being re- moved from the active seenes of war, and its services then only nominal, he decided to get nearer the front, and, relinquishing his com- mand, enlisted as a private in the United States service, and was assigned to Company L, Fiftieth New York Volunteers-Engineers. This com- mand was termed in those days a veteran regi- ment, it having been with the Army of the Potomae sinee 1861. Through the study of " Ma- han on Engineering " and other military works Colonel Warfield became thoroughly familiar with the duties of his eommand, and his pro- motion was rapid. In March, 1864, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and in De- cember was promoted to First Lieutenant. Ile participated with his regiment in some of the severest engagements of the war, was at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, etc., down to the surrender of Lee. Returning home with the regiment at the close of the war, he was unanimously ten- dered a Captain's commission by company K, Fifty-fourth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., which he accepted, remaining with his company until leaving Rochester for the West. While
residing there he traveled in the interests of his father's house. In 1876 Colonel Warfield came to California, and, after a residence of four or five months in San Francisco, located at Healds- burg. He was instrumental in the organization of the Farmers' & Mechanies' Bank, in 1877, and has been its cashier during its existence. He was a charter member of Post No. 1, G. A. R., Department of New York, and is probably the oldest member of the G. A. R. in California, in point of connection with the order. He is a companion of the California Commandery, M. O. L. U. S., and a member of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. Locally, he is asso- ciated with Rod Matheson Post, No. 17, G. A. R. As Commander of the Department of Califor- nia he attended the National Encampment of the G. A. R. at Portland, Maine, and with his delegation was given the credit of obtaining for San Francisco the following National Encamp- ment. When he assumed the duties of the office of Commander, the Department of Cali- fornia embraced fifty-nine posts and 3,500 com- rades. At the expiration of his term these figures had been increased to ninety posts and 4,545 comrades. For five consecutive terms he was Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Honor, then was made Past Grand Dietafor by the Supreme Lodge, and is now serving as Grand Dictator of the Grand Lodge of California. Since 1886 Mr. Warfield has inade his home at his ranch, on the Dry Creek road, within two miles of Healdsburg. This ranch contains sixty-five acres, of which seven acres are in fruit, and all but two acres of this in bearing. He has also 15,000 grape cuttings, one year old, the varieties being as follows, with numbers of each: Carignane, 6,000; Sauvignon Vert, 6,000; Burger, 1,500; and Grossblaue, 1,500. The combinations of these four varieties make the finest qualities of Claret and Sauterne wine. He can thus sell his grapes or make them into wine as circumstances might suggest. Some of his fruit is marketed at canneries, while the remainder is dried on the place. For the latter purpose he has a Plummer dryer
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(evaporator). Colonel Warfield married Miss Luta Emerson, a native of Albion. Orleans County, New York, but reared in Tonawanda and Rochester, same State. They have two children: George H., and Richard Emerson. January 8, 1889, Colonel Warfield was com- missioned Lieutenant-Colonel and Aid de-camp to the Commander-in Chief, Governor R. W. Waterman, and is now serving upon his staff.
M MATTHEW HENRY DUNN, landscape gardener, was born in England thirty- eight years ago, and was there trained for his work by his father, Richard Dunn, and also by his eldest brother. For thirty-two years his father had charge of a wealthy nobleman's grounds, employing from eight to ten men under him. His eldest son, Thomas Dunn, was edneated under him, and for twenty-eight years has been in charge of a similar large property. and he likewise is now training his two eldest sons for the same line of work. The subject of this sketeh had charge of a fine place for five years before emigrating to the United States in June, 1870. After spending a short time in prospecting for a situation, he took charge of the premises of Leander Frost, of Boston, at South Orange, New Jersey, where he remained five years, having charge of a beautiful country seat, embracing orchards, lawns, gardens, ete. On leaving there he started for San Francisco, and after a short stay in that eity went to San Jose, where he was employed for a short time. While there a friend telegraphed him of an opening for him in Oakland, and he at onee re- plied that he would be there that evening. IIe went, met the owner of the place, George B. Bailey, and closed a bargain to take charge of his place on Castro street, and was there seven years. Having acenminlated some money, and hearing many flattering tales of the possibili- ties of becoming wealthy in Oregon and Wash- ington Territory, he caught the fever, and went north, and after spending nearly a year there
and being dissatisfied with the climate of those countries compared with that of California, he returned to Oakland in November. In the fol- lowing spring, 1884, he came to Santa Rosa, and has since made this his home. The private grounds here being in a erude state of ornamenta- tion, he found a good field for his work, and has sinee labored to educate the tastes and develop landseape beauties among the homes of this eity. That he has succeeded in so doing is attested by the fact that many an uninviting yard has been transformed into a thing of beauty. Among the most notable are the School of the Sisters, consisting of abont four acres, Judge Temple's, on B street, Mrs. Runyan's and several others on that street; and Mr. MeDonald's elegant place on the avenue of the same name, and also B. MI. Spencer's, Dr. Wiley's and Captain Good's, on the same avenue. April 1, 1888. through the recommendation of private citizens familiar with his ability in landseape gardening, the board of supervisors of Sonoma County employed him to improve the court-honse plaza which was then a bare piece of ground with nothing but stones and weeds for ornaments. On the above date he commeneed his work, a :. d within four months had transformed this un- sightly spot to one of the most delightful places to be found anywhere, and now, October 1, 18SS, it is prononneed the most beautiful court- house grounds in California. He has had the entire planning and charge of the work, and the achievement has surprised every one and has sileneed all eritics. The floral designs and ar- rangements are unique and exquisite, and he bas furnished all the plants and seeds for the decoration. The varieties are not less than 100. His plans are to improve upon the present and increase from year to year the attractions of the grounds. Mr. Dunn was August 11, 1872, mar- ried in New Jersey to Miss Eliza Moffet, the youngest of the family of John Moffet. She came to this country from Scotland in her in- faney. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have three sons living: Arthur Stuart, Ira Sankey and Frank Bernard. Mr. Dunn is entirely wrapped up in
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his profession. It is almost his meat and drink. The only recreation in which he indulges is vocal musie, being quite an amateur expert in that. Ile is a member of the Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
OL. GEORGE F. HOOPER. - There is no fiuer or better cultivated and produe- tive estate in Sonoma County than the "Sobre Vista Ranch," owned by the above named gentleman. This magnificent ranch is located on the west side of the Sonoma Valley, abont four miles north of Sonoma, and com- prises 900 acres of hill and valley land. Every thing that talent, industry and money united with experience can do, has been done to make this the model vineyard and orchard of the county. Ninety acres are in vineyard, produc- ing wine grapes of the most approved and choicest varieties. The product of these acres is manufactured into wine in a capacious winery of 75,000 gallons capacity, which has been fitted up with the most approved machinery and appliances that modern science and ex- perience has produced. In connection with this winery there is also a distillery. Of table grapes this ranch produces a fine variety of Tokays, Corneshous, white Verdels, etc., which are shipped East, where they conunand the highest market rates. One of the leading in. dustries upon this place is the cultivation of French prunes, eighty acres being devoted to that fruit aloue. The fruit is dried and pre- pared for the markets in a steam drier erected for this purpose. There is hardly a fruit grown in the State of California that is not being cul- tivated upon these lands. In addition to the various fruits so successfully cultivated through- ont the county, we here find the orange, lemon, lime, etc., all yielding abundantly and without irrigation. There are also groves of pecan nuts, English walnuts, Japanese persimmons, the orange of China and citron. The olive grown upon this ranch is well worthy of mention. It
produces the finest oil in the State, being awarded the first premium in the Mechanics' Institute fairs of San Francisco in 1857 and 18ss, and also in the Sonoma County fairs whenever ex- hibited. Among the improvements upon this estate is the mansion which Colonel Hooper has erected for his residence. Magnificent in pro- portions and of beautiful and pleasing archi- tecture, it is situated upon a commanding slope well protected by the wooded mountains of the Sonoma range and overlooks a landscape of un- rivaled beauty. A broad and shaded avenne leads from the public road to the beautiful and well ordered grounds surrounding the residence. No expense has been spared by the owner in fitting and furnishing this mansion. Colonel Hooper took up his residence here in 1576. after an active and successinl life as a soldier. government surveyor, merchant. and banker. He is an intelligent and courteous gentleman, comunanding the respect and esteem of all, and his intelligent and successful efforts in his agri- cultural, horticultural, and viticultural pursuits are doing much toward developing and showing the wonderful resources of Sonoma County.
RSON A. TAYLOR was born in Addison County, Vermont, in 1832, his parents being Augustus and Eunice ( Willard) Taylor, both natives of Vermont. Mr. Taylor was reared as a farmer among the hills of his native State, and was early in life schooled to habits of industry and labor that have insured his success in after life. At the age of twenty- one years he started in life for himself. Leav- ing his native State he sought the great West. and located in Van Buren County, Iowa, where he engaged in farin labor and other occupations until 1854. In the spring of that year he started across the plains for California. This journey was accomplished by ox teams, and after undergoing the hardships and toils attendant upon such an emigration. he arrived at Sonoma County in the fall of 1554. There he engaged
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in farm labor for D. Grove for a short time, and afterward put in a erop of grain on shares. The next year, being desirous of trying his fortunes in the mines, he went to El Dorado County and engaged in mining. Ile was engaged in this and other employments until 1857. Hle then entered into sheep-raising, a business that he successfully followed for many years, during which time he resided in Sonoma, Sacramento, El Dorado and Kern counties, taking his flocks to whatever county afforded the best advantages for grazing, etc. In 1869 he returned to his native State, and there married Miss Julia Ann Shepperd, daughter of Stephen and Mary Shep- perd, natives of Vermont. Returning to Cali- fornia he resumed his former occupation, which he continued until 1877. In 1873 he purchased a tract of land in Sonoma County, and upon his abandonment of stock-raising, he took up his residence upon that land, sinee which time he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He is one of the representative farmers of his sec- tion. His fine farm comprises 365 acres in a most desirable location, on the north bank of Mark West Creek, in Russian River Township, Lone Redwood school district, one mile west of Mark West Station, on the North Pacific Railroad. These lands, of deep rich soil, are adapted to varied productions. Mr. Taylor has thirty-five acres of vineyard, producing wine grapes of the Zinfandel, Chasselas and Riesling varieties. He also has a fine hop field of thirty-five acres in extent. His lands seem particularly adapted to the profitable growth of the latter product, for he is producing some of the finest hops grown in Sonoma County. Among his improvements is a substantial and well ordered dry-house, con- taining all the modern improvements. This dry-house is capable of drying and curing seven tons of hops per day, when run to its fullest eapacity. Ten acres are producing alfalfa, four erops a year being taken from the fields. This is remarkable, as it is not irrigated land. The rest of the farm is devoted to hay, grain and stock-raising. Among the stock are 125 head of French merino sheep, also some tine speci-
mens of American horses for farm and road use. In 1878 Mr. Taylor married his second wife, Mrs. Cordelia (McDowell) Williard, the widow of James Williard, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in March, 1882, leaving one ehild, Augustus Orson, born September 8, 1879. From Mr. Taylor's first marriage there is one child living, Julia Pauline, born March 10, 1571. Mr. Taylor's father is a member of his family- a hale and hearty old gentleman, now (1888) over eighty years of age. Mr. Taylor during his long residence in California has traveled much and lived in several counties, but his choice set- tles upon Sonoma County. He is a strong ad- vocate and supporter of all enterprises that will build up the county of his choice, and he is a firm believer in the glorious future that awaits his section. He is a life-long Republican, taking a sleep interest and intelligent view of all political questions of the day.
W. YORK has been in the blacksmithing business in Healdsburg since 1875. In
6 that year he and his brother. A. A. York, opened a shop. but after four or five years C. W. York controlled the entire business. He does general blacksmithing and wagon-building and turns out only first-class work, all employes being good workmen. He also handles agri- cultural implements, carriages and buggies, and in all lines draws trade from many miles away. Mr. York is a native of Franklin County, Maine, born December 6, 1835, his parents being Daniel . York and Elnira Shaw, both of whom were natives of Maine, and came of old families of that State. The subject of this sketch was reared in Maine, learning the blacksmith's trade in the town of Phillips, Franklin County. On the 18th of March, 1861, he left home for ('ali- fornia, via Panama, and landed at San Francisco from the steamer Golden Gate, April 13, 1861. He went to Marysville, thence to Red Bluff; but baek from there to Marysville, from there to Grass Valley, and three months later to Red
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Bluff. He worked at saw-inilling six months, and between mining and haying was employed for another year. He finally got a footing with Samuel Isaacs in Shasta City, and a year later became interested at Squaw Creek during the mining excitement there. IIis ventures finally turned out disastrously and, in 1863, he went to Virginia City. He was engaged at his trade there and at Dayton until 1870, then came to Sonoma County and located two and one-half miles north of Windsor, where he farmed until coming to Healdsburg to open his shop here. Ile was married at Virginia City, in 1865, to Miss Dever, a native of Ireland. They have two children, Charles A. and Annie M. Mr. York is a member of the local lodge, No. 31, A. O. U. W. In 1888 he went back to Maine and made a pleasant visit among the friends and scenes of his youth.
S IDNEY R. COOPER, deceased, late presi- dent of the Santa Rosa National Bank, was one of the pioneer settlers of Sonoma County, having crossed the plains with his father's family, drawn by ox teams, in 1854, then a youth sixteen years of age. He was born in Missouri, during a temporary stay of his parents in that State, in 1838, and was one of a family of eight children-four of each sex- of John A. and Rhoda (Clark) Cooper, natives of Ohio. During the Black Hawk war, in 1832, in which he was a soldier, John A. Cooper re- sided in the then little village of Chicago. He moved to lowa in 1841 or 1842 and settled in Lee County. After a few years residence there he returned to Illinois for a short time; then returning to Iowa, located in Maliaska County, where the family remained until they came to California. Previous to bringing his family across the plains Mr. Cooper came with his eldest son to this Mecca of the gold seekers in 1850 and spent a year in the mines, when ill health compelled him to abandon the search for the yellow dust, and he returned to his home,
the son remaining a year longer. On arriving in California with his family the elder Cooper spent some time in looking about for the best portion of the State in which to locate, and, finally deeiding upon Sonoma County as his choice, he settled and passed the rest of his life here. Ile died in Santa Rosa in 1871, leaving his widow, who still survives at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, and occupies her pleasant home at 720 Fourth street. The sub- ject of this sketch spent the years 1854 and 1855 in the mines with fair success, then came to Sonoma County and engaged in farming, in which occupation, and dealing in live stock, most of his active life was spent. On starting out to fight life's battle Mr. Cooper realized the truth of the axiom that in union there is strength, and was united in marriage, in 1560, with Miss Chrilla J. Bowen, a native of Illinois, and daughter of William and Mary Bowen, California pioneers of 1852. Being industri- ons, frugal, and a good financier, Mr. Cooper was more than ordinarily successful in business; and when he retired from the country to Santa Rosa, in 1875, he owned several fine farms in Sonoma County. For eight years, from 1876 to 1884, Mr. Cooper traveled with and nursed his older brother, William M. Cooper, who was an invalid and a great sufferer through all that period, death coming to his relief in the last year named. In 1886 Mr. Cooper, with others, organized the National Bank of Santa Rosa, of which he was a director and assistant cashier from its inauguration. He had active supervis- ion of constructing the vault and fitting up the bank, and it was while thus employed that the first symptoms of the insidious disease, that proved fatal two years later, first showed them- selves. From the opening of the bank Mr. Cooper had charge of the loaning department, for which his extensive knowledge of the people of the county and his prudent financial policy eminently qualified him; and upon the resigna- tion of Edward W. Davis from the presidency (owing to failure of health), Mr. Cooper was elected president of the bank, which position he
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